boiMAG.com "Behaviorial & Mental Health"

by: Dr. Charla Waxman BS, MBA, EdD

The terms mental health and behavioral health are often interchanged. Should they be? Although as long as the language relating to mental health is not stigmatizing, it is commonly accepted that, in general, using one phrase over the other is really ok. The truth, however, is that mental health and behavioral health are different. Even the idea and actions in treating them differs.

To define these important terms, mental health is about our emotions and the psychological and social connections to our mental status. Behavioral health is all about how we behave and how those behaviors affect our mental health. Overall, it is recognized that physical wellness is important, but that mental health and behavioral health may be the foundation for overall good physical health.

Let’s review each of them:

Behavioral health is how our real life works because of the thoughts and thinking patterns we put into it. It's what we do and how we do it because of what we were thinking. It is how we react and respond to various life events. Good behavioral health means taking care of yourself through exercise, the things you choose to eat and managing your way of doing things to promote both physical and mental health. There are some behavioral conditions that come about when we have difficulty coping with experiences or things we think about.

Substance addiction is an all too common disorder; starting with peer pressure to elevate moods, as a coping tool, or to avoid negative issues.

Highly addictive substances that often are used initially to seek pleasure or improve outlook on life often become addictions, changing a person’s life forever, sometimes even resulting in death.

Eating disorders are certainly behavioral issues, but mental health concerns like self-image, body obsessions and perspectives related to control can take center stage. Eating disorder behaviors are referred to most frequently as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, orthorexia nervosa, and binge-eating. As with substance use disorders, eating disorders can be lethal, and, in fact, have the highest mortality rate of any behavioral or mental health disorders (SAMHSA).

Self-injury is seen as a behavioral issue and a mental health concern oriented to negative self-image, depression, and anxiety. Either way, experts agree that it is not a disorder unto itself, but a series of behaviors and thinking that hamper recovery and potential for healthy living.

Gambling addiction is like a substance addiction. What once appears as harmless and fun evolves into a cycle of negative outcomes and a life-changing way of functioning and developing relationships.

Mental health can relate very specifically to a mental disorder, an issue that can arise from genetics, trauma, life stressors, behaviors like substance use, or even medications from physical injuries or ailments. Mental health is about the thoughts, moods, and feelings related to any of these concerns. Although it often is the case, know that negative behaviors do not always latch onto a mental illness. Just like with behavioral disorders, there are conditions called mental illnesses because they are directly connected to and affect our thinking (which then affects our behavior and physical well-being).

Depression is a mood disorder. People describe depression using words like sad, helpless, worthless or hopeless and with descriptors like empty or feeling like lead weights are on them. There are different types of depression, perinatal mood disorder, seasonal affective disorder, or drug- induced depression. Regardless of what they are named, they are all disruptive forces in a person’s day-to-day patterns and routines for living.

Anxiety disorder is more than just worry over occasional life stresses. Just like depression, there are different kinds of anxiety: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders. Anxiety disorders are often typified by worrisome thoughts, a pervasive sense of unease, sleep issues, or an inability to sort out persistent negative thoughts. Every aspect of one’s day to day functioning can be impacted by anxiety and the accompanying thoughts and behaviors.

Bipolar disorder implies the preface “Bi” meaning that this disorder is characterized by states of both depression and mania, a mood and a behavior. Every person is different and bipolar disorder and the states of the disorder can last for varying amounts of time and with varying degrees in thoughts and actions.

Schizophrenia is a low prevalence disorder, but it can be devastating. (National Council for Mental Well Being) The loss of touch with reality, hallucinations, delusions or paranoid thinking is certainly life changing.

The caveat is not just that there may be poor balance between our mental health, our physical health and our behavioral health. We have to keep in mind that everyone is different in physical health, mental health and behavioral health and how we communicate our health needs to others. The term co-morbidity is something that implies that those imbalances have sparked the existence of the combination of 2 or more illnesses. For instance, someone with a substance addiction may be using those substances to block thoughts of suicide and depression. One can see how any of these illnesses can come together and have a huge impact on our health.

Because of the almost certain possibility that our health involves the coexistence of multiple conditions, make sure that the choice of a treatment program or treatment professional is well researched. Make sure that all issues can be skillfully approached and you can be supported in seeking health at multiple levels.

Just as there are distinct behavioral health and mental disorders, there are licensed professionals who work in those distinct areas. For behavioral health issues, consider Chemical Abuse Dependency Counselors, Addictionologists or other recovery specialists, psychologists, and programs that support eating disorders and self- injuring issues. For mental health disorders, licensed family therapists, nurse practitioners, or mental health technicians and programs support mental health. Remember that many behavioral and mental health problems coexist, so just be a real consumer of services and ask what path for treatment will be chosen for your combined conditions.

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